Wish List: iMac

I love my laptop. It is light enough that I don't mind hauling it around to classes, the library, and coffee shops. The problem is that I always wind up leaving it in my bag when I'm at home and using my husband's desktop computer. I like my laptop better, its just that I have no where to put it.

(Side note: that's not really true. I have a desk next to my husbands that would be perfectly appropriate for my laptop. However, I have a habit of leaving it covered in random stuff so that setting up my laptop would require cleaning first.)

In my dreams, I get to carry my wonderful laptop around, but when I'm home I have a fabulous desktop that I can use for writing. Now, I have always been a PC person, but if I were to pick any desktop I would pick an iMac.Isn't it beautiful? It just looks so sleek and clean. My school's computer labs have iMacs that I use whenever I am forced to venture into them to print something. They always feel so creative and professional. Will I wind up getting one? Probably not. My husband builds computers in his spare time and could probably build me something for far less money that runs far better. But, should I actually have the money and get a choice, an iMac is definitely on my list.

Writers are nuts!

Today in one of my classes we were discussing certain personality traits that may or may not affect an individuals health. At one point the conversation turned to people who keep doing something, convinced they will succeed even though the odds against them seem insurmountable. Now, as far as the class is concerned, this is a bad trait. However, the entire time I kept thinking that this sounds a lot like writers.

Seriously, what normal person would continually send out queries and manuscripts hoping and praying that someday someone is going to publish them?

On that note, in another class this week we were discussing (BIG) grant applications. My professor kept discussing how only about 40% of people who applied for one in a given year got one. Again, the entire class seemed very concerned.

I am pretty sure most writers would kill their best friend to have a 40% chance that a publisher would publish their novel.

So I guess the point of this post is that writers are crazy (you already knew that right?), but in all of this craziness is a clarity that we wouldn't have it any other way.

The Waiting Begins

I actually did it. Today I did a final edit on a picture book manuscript, wrote some cover letters, and stuck the materials in envelopes that are now waiting to be put in the mailbox tomorrow morning. I am by no means expecting any sort of wonderful response from these, but at least it is a step in the right direction.

So what to do during the 4-9 months while I wait for a response (or silence in the case of one publisher who only responds if interested)? I have another draft that needs to be polished and then can start making the rounds itself. I also have a number of other ideas that need to be written down.

Anyone have any grand ideas for making the time go faster?

Emotional Editing

Ever looked at something you wrote and thought, "Oh my god! This is complete crap"? That is how I am feeling today. I managed to finish a first draft of my book and am gearing up to start the editing process. I always try to give myself a few days between when I finish a piece and when I start editing to help keep myself from "emotional editing." "Emotional Editing" is when I edit before I have managed to separate myself from my words. At this point, I am usually far too hard on myself and delete things that should not be deleted. As you might imaging, this eventually leads to frustration and disappointment. So, here's to making my first pass at editing my manuscript.

Repressing my Internal Editor

One of professors used to tell us to do whatever it took to just write through the first draft of any of our work. I am finding it extremely difficult to restrain my internal editor as I attempt to simply finish a first draft. I am currently stuck at 425 words and cannot figure out what to write next.

I have resolved to finish putting words down on the paper, er screen, until I have finished a first draft, even if the words are crap. Hopefully, the next few hours will bring a sudden breakthrough. In any case, my goal is to have my first draft done by Friday. Wish me luck!

I Want to Write a Children's Book. Now What?

I've always wanted to write a book. I take that back. I have always wanted to write a book that would be published and available at bookstores around the country. I finally figured that there is no time like the present, so I have officially started writing a children's book. Do I know what I'm doing? Not really, but I am ready to figure it out.

So here I will record the journey that my writing takes as I attempt to write and find a home for my book. Advice, criticism (constructive please), and encouragement are always welcome.